Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport

How five WA sports clubs teamed up to tackle waste and drive behaviour change

In 2024, the Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) partnered with five of our member clubs — Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, Western Force Rugby, Vasse Soccer Club and Swamp Rats Cricket Club — to deliver the Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport project, with support from the Government of Western Australia and the WasteSorted Community Education Grants 2023 program.

The project focused on reducing waste across community and professional sport environments using a mix of education, communication, engagement, and practical tools such as WasteSorted resources and on-site audits.

What We Achieved

Each club took a tailored approach to meet their community’s needs, but collectively they reported strong progress in:

  • Increasing recycling, resource recovery, and landfill diversion

  • Reducing contamination — particularly in commingled recycling streams

  • Introducing new recycling streams at their facilities

  • Replacing single-use plastic bottles and cups with reusable options

  • Growing awareness and understanding of correct bin use

  • Working with merchandise suppliers to minimise plastic packaging

  • Embedding education and engagement practices to support sustainable change

What Works: Lessons from the Field

Clubs involved in the project also identified several key enablers for lasting change:

✔️ Start Early and Engage Often

Early, regular education helps build understanding and momentum.

✔️ Keep Signage and Messaging Simple

Positive, easy-to-follow communication makes it easier for players, staff, and fans to get it right.

✔️ Plan Ahead for the Season

Embedding sustainability into seasonal operations supports long-term consistency.

✔️ Align Stakeholders

Collaboration between clubs, local governments, contractors, and suppliers is essential to success.

✔️ Be Patient and Persistent

Behaviour change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, reinforcement, and leadership.

✔️ Explain the Why

Clubs found that resistance to change could often be overcome with clear, early communication and a shared sense of purpose.

Access the Full Case Study

A full case study detailing the project’s outcomes, achievements, and key takeaways is now available for download.

Click here to download the report

A Collective Effort for a Cleaner Future

This project highlights the powerful role that sport can play in shaping sustainable behaviours — on and off the field. With the right tools, support, and collaboration, community and elite clubs alike can lead the way in waste reduction and environmental impact.

Next
Next

What Reuse in Sport Really Looks Like: Key Takeaways from Our Latest Webinar